Senior Portrait Preview: Uncle Sam

the heat has arrived

The temperatures are already rising here in Dallas.  With every winter item neatly packed away and my summer items being picked over, I'm starting to remember just how wildly hot last summer was and that my wardrobe needs a little altering to fit the extended summer of Texas.  Is it bad that I'll probably be choosing cool & fashionable outfits over breastfeeding this summer and that Miss Medela will be working overtime?  Not only are most summer tops difficult to maneuver around, but whew... nursing covers don't work to well over 90 degrees!

 {anthro}

I still need to visit the new Dallas {H&M}- my sister bought JR the cutest baby t-shirt & hat from the Cincinnati location.  Here are a couple things I hope to find there:

 {gap} also comes in "hot coral" :)

{target} I've been very pleased with tarjay's summer collections 

and their little girls clothing is adorable!!  Wish they would fit me!

oh and these pumps...wow... on those days when my pedicure is fading :) {fortyfiveten}

Okay, now here is the big question!  Where can I find a good bathing suit?!  I think it's time I upgraded my high school suits (yikes!) and I'm willing to invest a little more than usual for a mom-appropriate, but still stylish and colorful swimsuit.  Any recommendations or websites? 2-piece is preferable because of my long torso.  I have a feeling we will be at the pool a lot this summer and our beach vacations will be here soon!  Leave some comments below.

Baby Steps to Organizing

Babies bring a lot more than love and joy to a home... and if I'm not careful our little home can be quickly overwhelmed with toys, clothes, play mats & books.  There were some areas I tried to prepare before John Ryman was born, but there were other areas that I had to reorganize once he came home and we realized certain clutter-prone areas.

The nursery was the main area that needed to be organized.  While decorating and buying items, I made sure there were good pieces for storage and hiding spots throughout the room.  The boxes below were one of the best purchases I made! (from IKEA)  They hold pjs, pants, and onesies that don't need to be hung up in the closet.

JR received tons of precious books from friends and I needed a spot to put all of them!  These IKEA spice racks were perfect for some of his books.   The other books (more toddler level) are in a garage rubbermaid.

The basket (pictured above) and the ottoman (below) are also great storage spots.  The nursery is so small that I knew every piece of furniture needed to be functional.  This TJMaxx ottoman is small enough for the room, but also hides lots of blankets inside.  I have several of the baskets throughout the nursery- one of my favorite flea market finds!- for stuffed animals, laundry, etc.  They add great texture to the room and can easily be transferred to a big boy room filled with trucks, cars & legos :)

The living room was also a spot that I knew could easily become cluttered.  Despite trying to limit baby playmats & activity gyms, little accessories can make the room appear messy, so before JR was born I cleared out one drawer in our side table and a basket in another table.  In the early days, I filled them with diapers, gowns, etc.... now there are more toys and books.  As he grows, so will his toys and I have a feeling more drawers will be emptied :) I'm not a stickler about organization and JR has plenty of toys to play with, but it is nice to have designated areas to place everything at night or before guests come over.  

Do you have any organization tips for your home?  or for your baby?

First Swim

 We had a wonderful Memorial Day swimming with friends!  JR sure loved being in the water...

 sweet wrinkly baby toes!

Bath Time in Nana B.'s Sink

 squeaky clean little boy!  Thanks Nana B.

Momma Makeup Bag

I usually start the day with this under-eye concealer- sometimes not until noon, just depends on when I wake up or how quickly JR goes down for his first nap :)  If the day goes well or I need to feel better about the day, I add the Revlon Mineral Makeup and/or Eyeflash Under-eye Highlighter from Victoria Secret.  I used to buy Bare Minerals Foundation, but a lady at Ulta recommended the Revlon version which is half the price!  While it may not be as great as Bare Minerals, the low price is worth the tiny bit of difference.  I LOVE the Eye Flash & it made me look more awake than I actually was those first few weeks with a newborn :)

If I'm staying at home all day, I usually add the items below to my face throughout the day- if I'm going out then I put them all on at once while the little man watches from his Rock n Play in the bathroom.
I love this bronzer and blush- mostly using both because I'm so pale!

{bareminerals: hushhush & Merle Norman bronzer: from my mom}

several tubes of mascara- mostly waterproof because hormones didn't change after pregnancy :)

 some deep purple eyeshadow from Mary Kay that I use as eyeliner occasionally:

... and I keep several lip colors in the diaper bag and car because that is the last thing I'm thinking about when walking out the door!

{bareminerals: Wild Honey}

My First Mother's Day

Last year I was pregnant on Mother's Day, but we were still waiting to tell people.  Patrick was out of town and I liked having my special Mother's Day dreaming of the next year when our little baby would be with us... and what a special day it has been this year!  John Ryman woke up super early this morning and usually I would be a little frustrated, but surprisingly I have come to miss those sweet middle of the night feedings.   I think he just wanted to wish me Happy Mother's Day early :) so I rocked him a little longer and thanked God for the precious blessing of being his mommy.   Then I thanked God again because he went back to sleep until 10:30 ;) 
Patrick preached this morning and we had a beautiful afternoon eating Babe's Chicken (at my request!) and Blue Bell, nap on the couch, short sunset walk and they even let me do a photo shoot to play around with my Mother's Day gift- a Nikon D90!!!  I love my new camera (My old camera -a D3000- was great, but the lens options are better with the D90 and there is a great video option) and I'm trying to get used to the feel of it all.  Most of these were shot at 1/320 F5 ISO 200- then Photoshop with Pioneer Woman "Seventies" and "Sharpen This" Action both at 50% Opacity.
Here are some of the shots I took today:

 I love this face he makes when he is talking:

 oh and these furballs wished me a happy mother's day too :)

Psalm 148

Hallelujah! Praise God from heaven, praise him from the mountaintops; 
   Praise him, all you his angels, praise him, all you his warriors, 
   Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, you morning stars; 
   Praise him, high heaven, praise him, heavenly rain clouds; 
   Praise, oh let them praise the name of God— 
      he spoke the word, and there they were! 


He set them in place from all time to eternity; 
   He gave his orders, and that's it! 


Praise God from earth, you sea dragons, you fathomless ocean deeps; 
   Fire and hail, snow and ice, hurricanes obeying his orders; 
   Mountains and all hills, apple orchards and cedar forests; 
   Wild beasts and herds of cattle, snakes, and birds in flight; 
   Earth's kings and all races, leaders and important people, 
   Robust men and women in their prime, 
      and yes, graybeards and little children. 

Let them praise the name of God- it's the only Name worth praising. 
   His radiance exceeds anything in earth and sky; 
   he's built a monument—his very own people!

   Praise from all who love God! Israel's children, intimate friends of God.
   Hallelujah!